In Sermon Illustrations: "Growth As A Disciple"

I Remember Hearing A Story About A Man Who Had ...  PRO

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Sep 30, 2001

I remember hearing a story about a man who had missed church for a number of weeks. The preacher had often called him and asked where he was, but the man kept putting the preacher off. Finally, one day, the preacher stopped by for a visit on a cold winter day. The man was sitting in front of his ...read more

Tags: Church Small Groups, Church Body Of Christ, Growth In Christ

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Life Of Resolutions  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 30, 2002

A LIFE OF RESOLUTIONS Jonathan Edwards, the 18th-century revivalist, sat down at age 17 and penned 21 resolutions by which he would live his life. Throughout his lifetime he would add to this list until, by his death, he had 70 resolutions. He put at the top of his list: "Being sensible that I am ...read more

Tags: Christian Values, Expectation, New Year's Day, Growth In Christ

You May Find This Interesting; I Once Did This ...

Contributed by Andrew Moffatt on Jul 13, 2010

You may find this interesting; I once did this driving course called an anti-skid driving course. One of the really valuable learning’s that I got out of it was, that when you drive, you should drive with your eyes looking well ahead maybe a couple of hundred metres ahead, not on the car just in ...read more

Scripture: John 14:6

Tags: Growth In Christ, Journey Of Faith, Journey With Jesus, Safe Passage

Denomination: Salvation Army

Are You A Chicken Or An Eagle?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Dec 2, 2020

John McNeil tells the story of a young eagle he had raised with a flock of chickens. The out-of-place bird had never learned to fly. One day McNeil thought he would teach this bird how, so he tried throwing it up in the air. But each time the bird would look down and fall to the ground. Then he had ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:33, Colossians 3:1-4, Hebrews 12:1-2, Isaiah 40:31

Tags: Holy Spirit, Vision, Spiritual Growth, Eagles, Things Of Earth  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

As A Part Of An Assignment For A Doctoral ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

As a part of an assignment for a doctoral thesis, a college student spent a year with a group of Navajo Indians on a reservation in the Southwest. As he did his research he lived with one family, sleeping in their hut, eating their food, working with them and generally living the life of a 20th ...read more

Tags: Love, Jesus, Growth, Discipleship, Friendship, God Brings Purpose  (view more)  (view less)

How Can You Tell When A Church Is Dying?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 31, 2022

FUNNY STORY!!! Calvin Coolidge, our thirtieth president, was an extremely quiet and reserved man with very little personality. When questioned, he rarely answered in more than two or three words—a tendency which earned him the nickname, “Silent Cal.” The public saw him as a stiff and emotionless ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 7:14

Tags: Renewal, Church Growth, Acts, Death Of A Vision, Church, Revival  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

God Won’t Ask What Kind Of Car You ...  PRO

Contributed by Tim Gibson on Nov 23, 2000

1. God won’t ask what kind of car you drove, but will ask how many people you drove who didn’t have transportation. 2. God won’t ask the square footage of your house, but will ask how many people you welcomed into your home. 3. God won’t ask about the fancy clothes you had in your ...read more

Tags: Second Coming, Judgment, Love Of The Disciples, Apologetics General

Denomination: *other

As Someone Said, "Not All Who Profess Christ ...  PRO

Contributed by Dan Erickson on Nov 21, 2000

As someone said, "Not all who profess Christ ...read more

Tags: Holy Spirit In Believers, Call Of The Disciples, Apologetics General

Denomination: Baptist

How Do You Have A Loving Church? A Survey Of ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 1, 2001

How do you have a loving church? A survey of 8,600 people from congregations in 39 different denominations measured their `love quotient’. The conclusion - growing churches are more loving to each other and to visitors than declining churches. Loving ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:42-47

Tags: Unity, Love Of The Disciples, Christian Love, Community, Characteristics  (view more)  (view less)

When We Vote We Demonstrate Our Beliefs By The ...  PRO

Contributed by Timothy Peck on Feb 1, 2001

When we vote we demonstrate our beliefs by the way we vote. Some people demonstrate by joining political organizations, others by writing letters to government leaders or editorial pages for the local newspaper. Some people demonstrate by picketing, whether it’s an abortion clinic or a casino. Some ...read more

Tags: Love Of The Disciples, Jesus Teachings, Christian Love, Betrayal

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

An Official Of A Mission Board, Who Knew That It ...  PRO

Contributed by Davon Huss on Jun 25, 2001

An official of a Mission Board, who knew that it takes more than desire to make a missionary, was appointed to examine a candidate. He told the young man to come to his house at 6 in the morning. The young man went at 6 in the morning to be examined, and the examiner kept him sitting in the room ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:4

Tags: Question, Patience, Love Of The Disciples, Christian Values, Character  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Following Ad Once Appeared In A London ...  PRO

Contributed by David Yarbrough on Nov 12, 2001

The following ad once appeared in a London newspaper: "Men wanted for hazardous journey. Small wages, bitter cold, long months of complete darkness, constant danger, safe return doubtful." The ad was signed by Sir Ernest Shackleton, Antarctic explorer. Amazingly, the ad drew thousands of ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:57-62, Luke 9:23-24

Tags: Look Back, Fulfillment, Call Of The Disciples, Christian Disciplines

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Bill Mccartney Retired As The Head Coach Of The ...  PRO

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Nov 14, 2001

Bill McCartney retired as the head coach of the Colorado football team several years ago. His reason for retirement was not because he was unsuccessful as a coach. His teams had won the national championship. They had been in the top 10 many times. McCartney said that he was retiring ...read more

Scripture: Haggai 1:4

Tags: Workplace Balance, Love Of The Disciples, Priorities, Finding Fulfillment

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

One Time It Was My Privilege To Watch The Ascent ...  PRO

Contributed by David Dewitt on Dec 1, 2001

"One time it was my privilege to watch the ascent of a balloon. It was bound to the earth by many cords. As the process of filling it with gas began, it struggled to get free. The first line was cut, and immediately that side was lifted from the earth. Then the second and third ropes were ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:21-40

Tags: Holy Spirit, Heaven, Love Of The Disciples, Second Coming

Denomination: Church Of God

My Second Item Is From That Great Gospel Program, ...  PRO

Contributed by Brian La Croix on Dec 2, 2001

My second item is from that great gospel program, "Hee Haw." Doc Campbell is confronted by a patient who says he broke his arm in two places. The doc replies, "Well then, stay out of them places!" He may have something there. We cannot regularly put ourselves in the face of temptation and not be ...read more

Tags: Temptation Resisting, Temptation, Call Of The Disciples, Christian Disciplines

Denomination: Wesleyan

In May Of 1996, The Greatest Disaster In Mountain ...  PRO

Contributed by James O. Davis on Dec 5, 2001

In May of 1996, the greatest disaster in mountain climbing occurred on Mount Everest. The climbers stayed too long at the summit. A storm began to blow in. As they made their way down to an intermediate camp, they were engulfed in a full scale blizzard. The wind exceeded 60 knots. The chill ...read more

Tags: Bible Influence, Holy Spirit Attributes, Love Of The Disciples

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Life Is No Brief Candle To Me. It Is A Sort Of ...  PRO

Contributed by Dru Ashwell on Dec 16, 2001

"Life is no brief candle to me. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got a hold of for the moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before ...read more

Tags: Leadership General, Sharing Your Faith, Love Of The Disciples

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Trouble With Success Is That The Formula Is ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 16, 2001

"The trouble with success is that the formula is the same as the one for a nervous breakdown." ...read more

Tags: Love Of The Disciples, God Brings Hope, Workplace Balance

Dr. Bill Bright Of Campus Crusade For Christ ...  PRO

Contributed by A. Todd Coget on Jan 11, 2002

Dr. Bill Bright of Campus Crusade for Christ tells this story of a famous oil field called Yates Pool: During the depression this field was a sheep ranch owned by a man named Yates. Mr. Yates wasn’t able to make enough on his ranching operation to pay the principal and interest on the mortgage, so ...read more

Tags: Holy Spirit Attributes, God's Omnipotence, Love Of The Disciples

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Scottish Preacher John Mcneill Liked To Tell ...  PRO

Contributed by Thomas Clawser on Feb 9, 2002

The Scottish preacher John McNeill liked to tell about an eagle that had been captured when it was quite young. The farmer who snared the bird put a restraint on it so it couldn’t fly, and then he turned it loose to roam in the barnyard. It wasn’t long till the eagle began to act like the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 103:5

Tags: Doubt, Call Of The Disciples, Leadership General, Unbelief, Transformation  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Other